On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan took notice of objectionable content on social media, including YouTube and hinted at shutting down the video sharing platform in the country.
Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin and Justice Mushir Alam were on the bench hearing the case of Shaukat Ali who was involved in a sectarian crime.
During the hearing, the court objected to unregulated content on social media, particularly comments regarding the judiciary, the armed forces, and the government.
“We are not against freedom of expression and masses have the right to discuss our performance and decisions as we take salaries from public money but constitution also provides us the right of personal life but users of social media and YouTube are targeting our families. Masses are being provoked against country’s army, government and judiciary,” remarked Justice Qazi Amin.
He also asked whether the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had checked the content on YouTube and whether they had taken action against people who mock the judges on the platform.
The court hinted at banning YouTube and issued notices to the Attorney-General of Pakistan and the Foreign Ministry on the matter.
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Celebrities React to The YouTube Ban
YouTube is the biggest video sharing platform and is home to many content creators. Now that the Supreme Court hinted that it may ban the popular platform in Pakistan, many celebrities have come forward to voice their concerns.
Really? Banning YouTube??
What next – Twitter, insta,FB, Netflix or even WhatsApp? Freedom of speech is the basic tenet of any society. In Pakistan, social media provides checks & balances that mainstream doesn’t. Progressive states shouldn’t need to resort to bans!! #YouTubeban— Mehwish Hayat TI (@MehwishHayat) July 22, 2020
YouTube ban in 2012 proved disastrous for the industry & is partly responsible of y we dont have local offices of Google,Facebook,Twitter etc. SC point was about regulation.With rules under PECA already being discussed with tech companies, there is NO question about #YouTubeban
— Dr. Shaista Lodhi (@IamShaistaLodhi) July 22, 2020
یوٹیوب ٹیکس کو بھی بجلی کے بل میں ڈال دیں – سب صحیح ہوجائےگا۔ ٹینشن کی بات ہی نہیں!#YouTubeban #YoutubeBanInPakistan #Media #Pakistan #YouTube #SupremeCourtofPakistan@shazbkhanzdaGEO@ImranKhanPTI @fawadchaudhry @AsimSBajwa @PTIofficial @PTAofficialpk
— Rafay Rashdi (@RafayRashdi) July 22, 2020
#YouTubeban There is a massive industry of content creators, digital makers and entertainers in Pakistan that survive on YouTube. Filter content would be a great idea but Banning YouTube will only create more idleness and negativity amongst the professionals and the public.
— Zara Noor Abbas Siddiqui (@ZaraNoorAbbas) July 22, 2020
#YouTubeban We have already lost too many jobs due to this Pandemic. Lives.. Let's be moderate in this Ban towards YouTube. If downsizing and joblessness continues like this, the next big pandemic could be mental inactivity which will cause further crimes and induce negativity.
— Zara Noor Abbas Siddiqui (@ZaraNoorAbbas) July 22, 2020
Im against banning apps/websites.This is not the solution as every social media web has its down side,even on twitter ppl abuse! We need better cyber laws to restrict objectionable content & counter bullying. Banning apps will never let us grow in the digital world. #YouTubeban
— Syeda Tuba Anwar (@syedatubaanwar) July 22, 2020
Countries ban apps cause of geopolitical/security reasons but we are banning apps/sites because of ‘bad influence’ on youngsters.Seriously?urge parents &everyone to check what their kids/ownself is typing &fix the influence.Govt only needs to make& implement cyberlaws #youtubeban
— Syeda Tuba Anwar (@syedatubaanwar) July 22, 2020
YouTubers Saad ur Rehman, Irfan Junejo and Raza Samo also shared their opinions on the ban as it will impact them and other content creators the most.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pJpWKac9J4
Any strip club wanna hire me after #YouTubeban ? I do have some mujra experience tho.
— Ducky Bhai (@duckybhai) July 22, 2020
Federal Minister of Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry also said that these types of decisions will destroy Pakistan’s tech industry. PTA and courts should stop with their ‘ban approach’.
Courts and PTA must stay away from moral policing and Ban Approach,such bans on internet based Apps ll destroy Pak tech industry and development of technology ll be permanently hampered,we are still not out of woods b/o judges illadvised interferece in economic matters
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) July 22, 2020
What are your thoughts regarding this YouTube ban?
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